Pune, a town earlier synonymous with colleges and learning institutes is fast changing its image. Contributing to this are areas like Hinjewadi and Baner where the skyline is replete with tech parks, artisanal cafes, fully-functional gated communities and modern residential investment options. Together, this has laid the foundation of an emerging business hub, especially for individuals who are looking to venture into franchise business in Pune. 

What makes this ecosystem conducive to franchise opportunities in Pune is that the costs – both operational and scalable, have not spiraled out of control like Tier 1 cities (eg: Mumbai). While at the same time, enterprising individuals can tap into talent and customers across age and income levels. It’s quite a wide spectrum – from students looking for affordable dining options to IT professionals in search of convenience. Each subset of the milieu presents a different business opportunity in varied fields for small franchise business in pune.

Let’s take a closer glance at each one –

Food & Beverage: An Evergreen Sector

Pune is a melting pot for food franchises because the demand never dies down. The mushrooming of new office complexes leads to the need for lunch options. Similar is the case of college neighborhood and housing society in areas like Wakad or Kothrud, which are fast becoming modernised. 

Jumboking is a prime example of leveraging the ‘franchise market’. Dheeraj Gupta founded the brand in 2001, focussing on quality, taste and affordability in the vegetarian fast food category. Today, the brand boasts of 180+ outlets pan-India. The success is deep rooted in one insight – Indian consumers want vegetarian options that have an equal place on the country’s menu. 

When it comes to franchise opportunities in Pune, what works is the central focus on systems. Jumboking operates as a 100% franchised model and has perfected how to help individual business owners succeed, from zeroing in on the location to running the supply chains efficiently. This structure matters a lot for those just venturing into the QSR space in areas like Hinjewadi, Wakad, Baner, Kothrud and Viman Nagar where there’s higher footfall, expanding residential base and younger consumer base. 

Education & Fitness: Pune’s Emerging Landscape 

It is common knowledge that Pune has been the hub of academics, which is further reflected in educational institutions gaining ground. No longer are people taken by traditional tuition classes and are preferring coding classes for kids as well as robotic workshops, language institutes and competitive exam prep centres. Additionally, digital skills training has picked up in line with the changing requirement of workforce skills. In such a climate, investors looking for a franchise with both profit and potential for growth,  the education sector is the way to go. 

What Pune Offers That Other Cities May Not

Pune as business investment sits perfectly in the sweet spot between no exorbitant rental costs and the inconvenience of chaotic traffic. Additionally, access to educated/literate workers with more affordable compensation expectations is also a win. Above all, the infrastructure availability is great and the customer base is also not fatigued with choices so far. This city is the answer to an investor seeking rapid growth and potentially steady returns on their investment in the best franchise business. The city also has been beneficial to those with varying budget and experience requirements.  

Successful franchising has only one requisite – a real partnership between franchisor and franchisee. Only those brands flourish that ensure actual training, provide supply chain support, marketing influence and ongoing operational guidance. For instance, Jumboking’s franchise agreement runs for 20 years, which stands for long-term commitment. At the same time the brand also helps with location selection and also has fail-safe mechanisms in place when there’s a gap in terms of setting-up and ongoing operations of the franchise, once established. 

FAQs

Is Pune the right choice for starting a franchise?
Depending on the current growth pattern and consumer base for small franchise business in Pune – it is. The city has reasonable operational costs while supporting growth of multiple sectors. 

How should first-time entrepreneurs approach franchising? 

QSR brands like Jumboking already have in place systems that help in minimising the learning curve. The key here is to find a franchisor who provides real-time and genuine support. 

Which locations perform best in Pune?

Areas where there is a lot more footfall, stronger reasons to purchase and purchasing power in residents would perform better. Some of such areas are Hinjewadi, Wakad, Baner, Viman Nagar and Hadapsar. When it comes to a food franchise, areas near IT parks, residential developments as well as college also perform well.